Russia and Eastern Europe

Russian Presidential Press and Information Office

Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for rebel forces in Eastern Ukraine have precipitated a dramatic fracture in relations between between Russia and the West. In response, a broad Western economic sanctions regime has bitten into the Russian economy, and the United States has sought to shore up support among Eastern European and Baltic states. The annexation and response represent a major test-case for international governance, principles of sovereignty and the reliability of the American security umbrella, particularly NATO.

On Monday, the Justice Department unsealed a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit against Mariia Butina, a Russian national, for conspiring to act as a foreign agent in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371. The full documents are below.

In her speech on the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May was deliberate with words and action. These diplomatic signals should have been clear to allies, especially the United States.